تنکا
tinka
In Urdu, "straw" is تنکا (tinka).
تنکا refers to a single piece of dried stalk from a cereal plant. Beyond its literal meaning, the word is frequently used metaphorically to describe something that is extremely small, insignificant or fragile.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, تنکا means "a piece of straw."
Which one should you use?
تنکا is the singular form, while تنکے is the plural form used for "straws" or "pieces of straw".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word تنکا has a plural form, تنکے, which is used when referring to multiple pieces of straw.
How do you pronounce it?
tinka
Did you know?
- While 'straw' in English can refer to a drinking straw, in Urdu, the word تنکا refers exclusively to the dried stalks of plants.
- When describing power imbalances, a person's insignificance is often contrasted as a تنکا against a mountain.
- The phrase تنکے کا سہارا (tinka ka sahara) literally means 'the support of a straw' and is used to describe a person's last, desperate hope.
Examples in context
- کھیت میں ایک سنہرا تنکا پڑا ہے۔khet mein ek sunahra tanka para hai.A golden straw is lying in the field.
- اس نے ایک چھوٹا تنکا زمین سے اٹھایا۔us ne ek chota tanka zameen se uthaya.He picked up a small straw from the ground.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Aisha are walking through a dry wheat field.
- عائشہ Ayeshaاحمد، دیکھو اس زمین پر ایک تنکا پڑا ہے۔Ahmed, dekho is zameen par ek tanka para hai.Ahmed, look, a straw is lying on this ground.
- احمد Ahmedہاں عائشہ، یہ بہت خشک ہے۔Haan Aisha, yeh bohat khushk hai.Yes Aisha, it is very dry.
- عائشہ Ayeshaکیا تم اس تنکے کو دیکھ سکتے ہو؟Kya tum is tanke ko dekh sakte ho?Can you see this straw?
- احمد Ahmedجی، میں اسے دیکھ رہا ہوں۔Ji, mein isay dekh raha hoon.Yes, I am seeing it.
